Drum washing machine

Abstract

A drum washing machine including a cabinet, a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet, a drum rotatively disposed at an inside of the tub, a condensing duct configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum, and a drying duct configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum, wherein the condensing duct is coupled to a rear of the tub, while the drying duct is positioned at an upper portion of the condensing duct and is coupled to the cabinet, and in between the condensing duct and the drying duct, a buffer coupling member configured to mediate the condensing duct and the drying duct is provided.

What is claimed is:   
     
       1. A drum washing machine, comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet; 
 a drum rotatably disposed at an inside of the tub; 
 a condensing duct configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum; and 
 a drying duct configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum, 
 wherein the condensing duct is coupled to a rear of the tub, 
 the drying duct is positioned at an upper portion of the condensing duct and is coupled to the cabinet, 
 a buffer coupling member is positioned in between the condensing duct and the drying duct, the buffer coupling member being configured to mediate the condensing duct and the drying duct, 
 the buffer coupling member is composed of a pipe-shaped hose having an overall decreasing diameter in an upward direction whereby a cross sectional area of the buffer member connected to the condensing duct is greater than a cross sectional area of the buffer coupling member connected to the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       2. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a front side panel of the condensing duct that composes the condensing duct is coupled to a rear surface of the tub in a closely adhered manner. 
 
     
     
       3. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member is formed of flexible material. 
 
     
     
       4. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member includes a wrinkle portion having a mountain part and a valley part alternately disposed. 
 
     
     
       5. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member includes at least one step portion having a width thereof being narrowed in a direction from the condensing duct to the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       6. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide portion provided in between the buffer coupling member and the drying duct, and configured to guide the coupling of the buffer coupling member and the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       7. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the drying duct comprises a front surface panel to be coupled to the cabinet. 
 
     
     
       8. The drum washing machine of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the front surface panel of the drying duct is fastened to the cabinet by using a screw. 
 
     
     
       9. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the condensing duct comprises a coupling protrusion portion protruded toward an outer side of the condensing duct to be coupled to the tub, and the tub comprises a coupling groove to be coupled to the condensing duct, and 
 the coupling protrusion portion of the condensing duct is insertedly assembled into the coupling groove of the tub. 
 
     
     
       10. The drum washing machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a sealing member in between the coupling protrusion portion of the condensing duct and the coupling groove of the tub to prevent air from leaking. 
 
     
     
       11. The drum washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the condensing duct is fastened to the tub by using a screw. 
 
     
     
       12. A drum washing machine having a condensing duct and a drying duct, the drum washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet; 
 a drum rotatably disposed at an inside of the tub; 
 a mounting portion having at least a portion thereof open for air to move is provided at one side of the drying duct; and 
 a buffer coupling member configured to couple the drying duct to the condensing duct and configured to buffer a vibration of the drum washing machine mounted at the mounting portion, 
 wherein the buffer coupling member is composed of a pipe-shaped hose having an overall decreasing diameter in an upward direction whereby a cross sectional area of an end of the buffer member coupled to the condensing duct is greater than a cross sectional area of an end of the buffer coupling member coupled to the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       13. The drum washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the end of the buffer coupling member coupled to the drying duct is coupled to a rim portion of an inner side of the mounting portion, and 
 the end of the buffer coupling member coupled to the drying duct is coupled to an outer side of the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       14. The drum washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member is configured to have flexibility so that a length of the buffer coupling member is contracted and extended. 
 
     
     
       15. The drum washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the hose comprises a wrinkle portion having a mountain part and a valley part alternately disposed. 
 
     
     
       16. The drum washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the hose comprises at least one step portion having a width thereof being narrowed in a direction from the condensing duct to the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       17. The drum washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a guide portion provided in between the buffer coupling member and the drying duct, and configured to guide the coupling of the buffer coupling member and the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       18. The drum washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the guide portion is provided at an inner side of the buffer coupling member to mediate the drying duct and the buffer coupling member. 
 
     
     
       19. A drum washing machine, comprising:
 a cabinet; 
 a tub disposed at an inside of the cabinet; 
 a drum rotatably disposed at an inside of the tub; 
 a condensing duct connected to the tub, and configured to condense moisture in air that is introduced from an inside of the drum; 
 a drying duct configured to heat air being introduced from the condensing duct to supply the heated air to an inside of the drum; and 
 a buffer coupling member configured to connect the condensing duct to the drying duct to buffer a motion or a vibration of the tub from being delivered to the cabinet through the condensing duct, 
 wherein the buffer coupling member is composed of a pipe-shaped hose having an overall decreasing diameter in an upward direction whereby a cross sectional area of the buffer member connected to the condensing duct is greater than a cross sectional area of the buffer coupling member connected to the drying duct. 
 
     
     
       20. The drum washing machine of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member is provided in a way that the condensing duct is moved relative to the drying duct, so as to buffer the motion or the vibration of the tub from being delivered to the drying duct through the condensing duct. 
 
     
     
       21. The drum washing machine of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the drying duct is coupled to the cabinet. 
 
     
     
       22. The drum washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member is composed of flexible material. 
 
     
     
       23. The drum washing machine of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the buffer coupling member comprises a wrinkle portion having a mountain part and a valley part alternately disposed.